8 years ago, with my first child on the way I decided to welcome her into the world via a Home Birth. Looking back, I was well researched walking into my first Home Birth. I discuss that process and how to better educate yourself in my post Where to Start When You Are Considering a Home Birth. This is information I wish I had all those years ago rather than figuring things out on my own. Another thing that was missing during my first pregnancy was knowing someone who had experienced a Home Birth to turn to with my questions and concerns. Now years later I have six Successful Home Birth Stories to share with others who are looking for more information. While I will always encourage other women to consider a Home Birth, I do have some Home Birth Regrets I wish I could go back and change.
Labor Regrets
Keep going about my day when labor starts. I did this with Baby #5 and #6, but with the first four I just halted my day. Then sat around for hours once labor started waiting on a Baby to be born. It made me antsy and impatient for the whole experience to be over and my holding a baby. With the last two home births, labor and the hours seemed to go by more quickly as I stuck to my usual daily routine until the contractions got too intense for me to be moving around.
Relax During Contractions. Oh, how I wish I didn’t tense up during contractions and try to fight my body’s natural response to birth! Contractions are NO fun, and we all want them over as quickly as possible. I finally gave in and tried the Bradley Method during labor with Baby #6. I completely relaxed my body. Breathed in and out. Spoke encouragement to myself (in my mind) with each contraction and what a difference that made! If you are curious to read more about my experience, then check out my Successful Home Birth with Baby #6.
Delivery Regrets
With every child this has been a different experience. Some kids I pushed too soon when I should have waited on my body to be ready. Another kid was over 10lbs and got stuck during delivery which was VERY unpleasant. Then there were the two kids who slipped out very easily.
My biggest Home Birth regrets with delivery is don’t ask how many pushes until baby comes. Just relax (as much as you can) when a contraction comes and when your body is ready to push then give it everything you got! In my earlier birth experiences, I would push longer than I needed to because I wasn’t listening to my body. I just knew I was 10 centimeters dilated so that means it was time to push. If I had just given my body a few more minutes and contractions, then delivery could have been a much smoother experience.
Postpartum Regrets
Oh, Postpartum it can be an easy healing process for some and unbelievably rough for others. No matter your experience my advice would be the same. Relax and cuddle a baby. Let others care for you and help with Baby when you need it. Don’t try to rush back into the flow you had before baby. Just enjoy this time with your newborn. You will blink and three months will have passed. They will be sleeping through the night, and you will start to get your energy back to do all the things you used to accomplish on a daily basis.
Now I will admit with Baby #6 I could have behaved better during Postpartum. Even with over three weeks of help from Sam and my Mom I still tried to do too much too soon. I enjoy running my household, and caring for my kids so asking for help is hard for me. Taking is easy during Postpartum doesn’t mean you are lazy. It means you are smart to let your body take time to heal and learn to care for your new baby as you acclimate a new addition to the family. Check out my post on Postpartum Prep Ideas for more information on caring for yourself post-birth.
Midwives are wonderful people! I have had two different Midwives in my six Home Birth experiences, and I will sing their praises forever. They took the time to care for me and my baby postpartum. They made sure I knew the vital information I needed for the first 48 hours even though I had been through this many times before. It’s amazing what you forget pregnancy to pregnancy. They were on call after they left should I need anything. Even in the postpartum visits that followed they were always attentive to baby and my needs. All in all, I have had wonderful Home Birth experiences! I will choose this option again and again should we be blessed with more children in the future. While I do have some Home Birth regrets with my past experiences hopefully, I will continue to learn from them and adjust in the future.
Looking for More Home Birth Information?
Then please check the resources on my Home Birth page. Thanks for stopping by!
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